By a narrow 49 - 44 percent margin, New York City voters oppose a proposal to toll the East
River bridges and at the same time reduce tolls on the bridges between The Bronx, Queens,
Brooklyn and Staten Island, the so-called "Outer Borough" bridges, and use the money for mass
transit, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Opposition to just setting tolls on the free East River bridges remains strong, 69 - 27
percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. There is no group
that comes close to 50 percent support for tolls, except Staten Island at 43 percent.

Independent voters back the newer toll-swap plan 52 - 40 percent with opposition at
52 - 39 percent among Republicans and 52 - 43 percent among Democrats. There is a gender
gap as women oppose the plan 50 - 40 percent, while men are divided 48 - 47 percent.

Support is 61 - 37 percent in Staten Island, with opposition at 57 - 37 percent in
Brooklyn and 51 - 42 percent in Queens. Bronx and Manhattan voters are divided with 47
percent in each borough in favor and 43 percent opposed.

"East River bridge tolls? New Yorkers have been saying no for years," said Quinnipiac
University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll. "But the people pushing the idea this time
are savvy. They'd marry new tolls to toll reductions elsewhere. And they tie it to mass transit
improvements. In response to that idea, the level of opposition shrinks.

"Whatever their views on what should be done, 88 percent of voters agree that traffic
congestion is a serious problem."

On another issue, New York City voters support 66 - 29 percent, including 63 - 35
percent among Republicans, allowing government to set limits on what landlords can charge
tenants.

Support is 60 percent or higher among every party, gender, racial and age group and in
every borough except Staten Island, which is divided 46 - 46 percent.

At the same time, New York City voters support 68 - 29 percent giving tax breaks to
developers who set aside some apartments for affordable housing. Support is over 64 percent
among every group except Staten Island voters, who support tax breaks 53 - 41 percent.

"The State Legislature is tied up in knots over extending some form of rent control and
continuing tax breaks for developers who create affordable housing, but sentiment among city
voters is overwhelming - just do it," Carroll said.

Turning Out the Lights and Veterans Preferences

Mother Nature wins out over the New York Skyline as voters support 71 - 25 percent,
including 58 - 36 percent among Republicans, a proposal requiring building owners to turn off
the lights when offices are not in use. Support ranges from 67 - 29 percent in Queens to 73 - 22
percent in Manhattan.

"The idea of turning down the lights on the world-famous New York Skyline, to conserve
energy and help the birds, seemed far-fetched when it first surfaced.

"But overwhelmingly, the people who live with those lights say, 'Turn 'em off, or maybe
turn 'em down a little,'" Carroll said.

New York City voters support 82 - 12 percent a proposal to give veteran-owned
businesses the same type of preference granted women and minority-owned businesses when
bidding on city contracts. Women support the idea 83 - 10 percent, while men support it 80 - 15
percent, with support at 75 percent or higher in every borough.

"Helping veterans is a no-brainer," Carroll said.

From May 6 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 969 New York City voters, with a
margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

27. Where do you think New York City should get additional money to maintain roads, bridges and mass transit; raise the city sales tax, raise the state gas tax or add tolls on bridges into Manhattan?

TREND: Where do you think New York City should get additional money to maintain roads, bridges and mass transit; raise the city sales tax, raise the state gas tax or add tolls on bridges into Manhattan?

29. Would you support or oppose a plan to charge tolls on the East River bridges, which go into Manhattan, and at the same time reduce tolls on the bridges between the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island and use the money for mass transit?

43. There is a proposal to grant veteran-owned businesses the same type of preference as women and minority-owned businesses when bidding on New York City contracts. Do you support or oppose this proposal?

44. There is a proposal to require New York City building owners to turn off the lights when offices are not in use. Supporters say this would reduce energy consumption and have less impact on migratory birds. Opponents say it would reduce the beauty of the New York City skyline. Do you support or oppose requiring building owners to turn off the lights when offices are not in use?